Http://www.osotamerica.org

On Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, Operation Support Our Troops-America (OSOT America) will be joined by Gov. Pat Quinn and MB Financial Bank to launch its “America has NOT Forgotten” awareness campaign.

“The campaign is a national effort to remind Americans that thousands of young men and women continue to serve in dangerous places around the world,” said OSOT America President Deb Rickert. “It is based on the fact that after ten years of war, our military and their families are weary and now, more than ever, they need to know that America supports and cares for them. Currently less than 1% of America’s population serves in some branch of the Armed Forces. The ‘America Has NOT Forgotten’ campaign is aimed at bridging the gap of understanding between them and the rest of the population that does not serve.”

The campaign will include educational information as well as a “Call to Action” that asks each American to commit to accomplishing at least one simple task from a suggested list that shows their support for our men and women serving. These tasks include writing a weekly note of support to service members and flying the flag at half-mast on the last Friday of each month in honor of those lost in the war during that month.

As part of the campaign, for a second year, all 90 Chicagoland locations of MB Financial Bank will serve as drop-off locations for comfort items to be sent to troops throughout the month of November. These items include Slim Jims or beef jerky, granola bars, canned nuts (20 oz. or less), eye drops, non-aerosol shaving cream and foot powder (20 oz. or less). Chicago Messenger will help move all items from MB to OSOT America’s distribution center. Go to www.osotamerica.org for a complete list of items. In addition, for every person who “likes” MB on Facebook from Nov. 7 through Nov. 30, MB will donate $1 to OSOT America.

“This is MB’s second year as the collection sponsor,” says Mitch Feiger, president, MB Financial Bank. “While on the surface it may not look like it’s a logical partnership, it is. We are a Chicago-based bank with a 100-year tradition of being active in the neighborhoods we serve. We know that we have customers – and employees – who have made the great sacrifice of serving or having a loved one deployed and serving in harm’s way. What better way to show our gratitude and support for these families than to partner with OSOT-America. And our support isn’t just in November. In September of this year, MB employees went to OSOT-America to lend a hand at their distribution centers for our volunteer day called MB on the Block.”

OSOT America is a 501 (c)(3) volunteer based organization that supports the morale and wellbeing of American forces by providing comfort, resources and education to them and their families while they are deployed and after their return. Since inception OSOT America has shipped approximately 900,000 pounds of goods to troops around the world. OSOT America also provides financial support to military and veteran support organizations such as Fisher House and Hines VA Hospital.

MB Financial Bank ( www.mbfinancial.com) is a locally-operated financial institution that has been delivering competitive personalized service for 100 years to businesses and individuals who live and work in the Chicago metropolitan area. MB Financial Bank’s holding company, MB Financial, Inc., is traded on NASDAQ as “MBFI.”